What Does SSA Entail?

Summary: When someone tells you they are dealing with same-sex attraction, their situation may be relatively simple or incredibly complex. The sections below provide a basic understanding of what they may be experiencing.

Many with same-sex attraction have painful life histories. Abuse of various types is common. However, some with same-sex attraction have not experienced circumstances or events that they consider traumatic. Same-sex attraction can develop in the absence of trauma, but trauma is far more common than not. [ MORE ]

Emotional and psychological problems often accompany same-sex attraction. Some of these problems may be the result of homosexuality. Others may be intrinsic to the person or may result from the same life circumstances that caused the homosexuality. [ MORE ]

Sexual Arousal Oriented Toward Others of Their Own Sex

Unbidden attractions to others of the same sex are not a choice and are not sinful. The Church’s website www.mormonsandgays.org says, “The attraction itself is not a sin.” Attractions can be experienced as feelings of arousal or desire toward a person of the same sex, whether in real life or in the media.

Arousal patterns—meaning what specifically excites a person sexually and how frequently and intensely they become aroused—vary greatly from one person to another. Very often, men with same-sex attraction report that their attractions are actually based on non-sexual feelings like envy, admiration, awe, or wishing they were the other man. They can also be experienced as longings for closeness, nurture, love, and companionship with another of the same sex. Sometimes sexual desires are a replay of early life experiences, especially sexual abuse.

Sexual arousal can be oriented toward specific body parts like feet, body hair, or a man’s chest. These attractions are known as “fetishes.” Or arousal can be toward situations that involve sadistic or masochistic behaviors. And sexual arousal may be oriented toward individuals in the person’s same age group or toward those who are much older or much younger.

The intensity of arousal also varies greatly from person to person. Some individuals experience their attractions as compulsory and may have no control over their behavior. This would clearly indicate the presence of a sexual addiction. Other people experience just a feeling of attraction, which they are able to set aside and not act on.

It may not be necessary for you to understand the specifics of your family or ward member’s arousal pattern in order to support them.

Homosexual Behaviors

Summary: There are diverse ways in which an individual might behave sexually. The levels of involvement, and subsequent guilt or shame, also vary widely from person to person.

Everything after the spontaneous attraction involves some degree of agency and choice. Some individuals are able to avoid engaging in homosexual behavior despite their attractions. Others may lack the impulse control that would be necessary to control their behaviors. For some, the feelings are so strong that it may seem impossible to control their behavior.
Homosexual behavior may include:

Some people with same-sex attraction have had little or no involvement in homosexual behavior. Others may be sexually addicted and unable to stop. The degree of involvement does not necessarily dictate the guilt response; some people will feel tremendous guilt or shame for simply having the attractions, while others may feel almost no remorse despite a long history of sexual behavior involving other people.

These latter individuals may try to justify engaging in varying degrees of homosexual behavior. For example, they may reason that since it is okay for men and women to kiss before marriage, it should also be okay for two unwed men to kiss. They may even justify living in a homosexual relationship with another man, because God loves them regardless of that choice.

Life Histories That May Include Trauma

Summary: Many with same-sex attraction have painful life histories. Abuse of various types is common. However, some with same-sex attraction have not experienced circumstances or events that they consider traumatic. Same-sex attraction can develop in the absence of trauma, but trauma is far more common than not.

Trauma is not a necessary predisposing factor in the development of same-sex attraction. However, it is our experience that most individuals with same-sex attraction experienced traumatic events as they were growing up. Typically, they also felt entirely alone with the pain and fear caused by the trauma. Trauma can come in a variety of ways.

Neglect and abandonment result from failure of parents or caregivers to provide for basic physical needs, emotional nurturing and support, education, safety, and social skill development.

Verbal abuse may be defined as threatening, angry, critical, insulting, or vulgar speech directed at an individual. Sometimes verbal abuse is very blatant, such as when someone angrily shouts at, or threatens to hurt someone. But verbal abuse can also be subtle, such as when a person speaks in a condescending way or insults someone indirectly.

Harassment or bullying is repeated or prolonged mistreatment or persecution. Young people in schools and neighborhoods commonly harass one another. Sometimes, this harassment gets so out of hand or becomes focused so intensely on one individual that emotional harm is done. Often, a boy who is already unsure of him self because of negative experiences he has had in earlier relationships frequently becomes a target for this type of abuse.

Physical abuse is any action by one person that is intended to inflict pain or injury on another person. Physical abuse is significant when it creates long-term anger, resentment, mistrust, and problems with self-acceptance. The degree to which physical abuse affects a child can depend on how the child perceives the treatment and the person giving the treatment. For example, some boys may be almost amused by a vigorous spanking from their mother. But these same boys may feel terrified and deeply injured by a mild spanking from their father. The father may have inflicted less pain, but his intimidating personality makes the experience feel worse.

Sexual abuse occurs when one person uses another for his or her own sexual gratification against their will or without their consent. It occurs when an adult engages a minor in sexual activity or exposes them to sexually explicit material or language with or without their consent. It occurs when an older and more powerful child engages a younger or smaller child in sexual activity.

Significant losses can also create trauma. For example, the emotional or physical loss of a parent, sibling, friend, or pet through death, divorce, betrayal, or relocation can create lasting pain. Sometimes trauma results when a family moves during a vulnerable time in a child’s life, especially when the child is unable to fit in or adjust well to the new circumstance.

Accidents also create trauma, particularly when the person feels out of control and vulnerable.

Emotional and Psychological Problems

Summary: Emotional and psychological problems often accompany same-sex attraction. Some of these problems may be the result of homosexuality. Others may be intrinsic to the person or may result from the same life circumstances that caused the homosexuality.

Those with same-sex attraction with whom we have worked often report tendencies toward obsessive-compulsiveness, perfectionism, and rumination. We don’t know whether these conditions arise from inherent temperaments or whether they develop from life experiences. Same-sex attracted people also often experience dissociation, anger, unfinished grief, and posttraumatic disturbance, which are usually the result of traumatic experiences in childhood and adolescence. Addiction is another common condition among those with same-sex attraction.

While these kinds of trials can make life difficult for any person, for those with same-sex attraction they are particularly problematic. This is because these conditions tend to increase distress and decrease resilience, which can intensify homosexual desires and encourage acting on them as a means of blunting pain. Usually, the same-sex attraction can’t be addressed until these other issues have been resolved to some degree.

Since these issues are often not apparent to someone who is unfamiliar with them, they are not likely to be overcome without help from a therapist who is well trained in working with unwanted same-sex attraction.

Identity

Summary: Those with same-sex attraction identify with their homosexuality in a variety of ways. Some see it as an unwanted personal trial while others consider it a fundamental part of who they are.

Some people see homosexuality as a core part of their identity. They might refer to themselves as “gay,” and may feel homosexuality has always been part of who they are. These people might be less interested in therapeutic interventions or in trying to change their lives. Some of these may desire to remain committed to living the standards of the gospel. They may want to marry and have a family, and some may be able to do so. Others who identify as gay may pull away from the Church and have no interest in gospel-centered goals.

On the other hand, some same-sex attraction people will view their homosexuality as merely a set of feelings that have no bearing on their core identity. They will not feel that same-sex attraction represents who they really are. They will likely consider the attractions to be an unwanted burden. Their identity may be formed around being broken or deficient, or it may be centered in the belief that they are basically good, but just have a peculiar challenge in their life.

We have not seen success in changing the way individuals identify with their same-sex attraction. Parents who attempt to talk their gay-identified children into trying to change their sexuality tend to aggravate and alienate the child. Use of punishment and withdrawal of emotional or financial support to encourage change is hurtful and destructive and could lead to depression, anxiety, and suicidal feelings. Change-oriented therapy under these circumstances is not useful. However, therapy can be helpful in working through family conflict and resolving other issues so long as all parties accept that a shift in sexuality is not the goal.

Spiritual challenges

Summary: same-sex attraction, like any challenge, can either bring a person closer to God or challenge their relationship with Him.

In our extensive experience, nothing has ever indicated that homosexuality is caused by problems with spirituality. Nor does having same-sex attraction necessarily mean that an individual will have spiritual problems. In fact, for some members, the challenges with same-sex attraction increase their sense of connection with God, and the adherence to His commandments. They rely on God for help and seek the power of the Atonement in their lives.

However, others will find their testimony is greatly challenged by their same-sex attraction. The intensity of their needs and desires can overwhelm the desire to live within the gospel plan. Satan can easily use those overwhelming feelings to tempt individuals to experiment and satisfy their intense urges. Some of these people may feel abandoned or betrayed by God, Church leadership, their families, or by other Church members.

In addition, many men and women with same-sex attraction become predisposed to resent and mistrust males and those in authority. These issues tend to be deep-seated and result from problems in past relationships. We have found that showing profound love and acceptance toward these individuals can do much to lessen the intensity of these feelings. Nevertheless, therapy may be required to help the individual fully grow beyond these issues.

EXPLORATION is a truly monumental project. Every week between July 2013 and July 2015 we will roll out a new topic of interest for men with unwanted same-sex attraction and related issues.

The intention is to present helpful ideas, invite you to consider and take action on them, and then to share your experiences back to the site. Thus your life becomes part of a repository of knowledge from which others can benefit from. And you can benefit from what others find. [LEARN MORE]

It's brothers helping brothers.

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